# Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour season 2003–04

The 2003–04 Pro Tour season was the ninth season of the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour. On 23 August 2003 the season began with parallel Grand Prixs in Yokohama and London. It ended on 5 September 2004 with the conclusion of the 2004 World Championship in San Francisco. Beginning with this season Wizards of the Coast moved the Pro Tour schedule farther backwards in the year to synchronize it with the calendar year. The season consisted of 26 Grand Prixs and 7 Pro Tours, held in Boston, New Orleans, Amsterdam, Kobe, San Diego, Seattle, and San Francisco. Also the Master Series tournaments were discontinued and replaced by payout at the end of the year based on the Pro Player of the year standings. At the end of the season Gabriel Nassif was proclaimed Pro Player of the year, the first player after Kai Budde's three-year-domination period, and also the first player to win the title without winning a Pro Tour in the same season.

## Pro Tour – Boston (12–14 September 2003)

"Phoenix Foundation" had its third consecutive Pro Tour Top 4 appearance, but this time they were eliminated by eventual champions "The Brockafellars". The team consisting of William Jensen, Matt Linde, and Brock Parker had allegedly not done a single practice draft in the format.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $200,100 Players: 399 (133 teams) Format: Team Sealed (Onslaught, Legions, Scourge) – first day, Team Rochester Draft (Onslaught-Legions-Scourge) – final two days Head Judge: Collin Jackson

### Top 4

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Zabutan Nemonaut | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Original Slackers | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Original Slackers | 2 | Original Slackers | Original Slackers | 0 |
| | | | The Brockafellars | The Brockafellars | 2 |
| 2 | Phoenix Foundation | 0 | The Brockafellars | The Brockafellars | 2 |
| 3 | The Brockafellars | 2 | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Team | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | The Brockafellars | Brock Parker | $60,000 | 24 | |
| 1 | The Brockafellars | William Jensen | $60,000 | 24 | 4th Final day |
| 1 | The Brockafellars | Matt Linde | $60,000 | 24 | 2nd Final day |
| 2 | Original Slackers | Lovre Crnobori | $30,000 | 18 | |
| 2 | Original Slackers | Jake Smith | $30,000 | 18 | |
| 2 | Original Slackers | Rickard Österberg | $30,000 | 18 | |
| 3 | Zabutan Nemonaut | Mike Turian | $18,000 | 12 | 3rd Final day |
| 3 | Zabutan Nemonaut | Gary Wise | $18,000 | 12 | 4th Final day |
| 3 | Zabutan Nemonaut | Eugene Harvey | $18,000 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 4 | Phoenix Foundation | Marco Blume | $15,000 | 12 | 3rd Final day |
| 4 | Phoenix Foundation | Kai Budde | $15,000 | 12 | 9th Final day |
| 4 | Phoenix Foundation | Dirk Baberowski | $15,000 | 12 | 5th Final day |

### Pro Player of the year standings

| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Matt Linde | 29 |
| 2 | William Jensen | 24 |
| 2 | Brock Parker | 24 |
| 4 | Marco Blume | 18 |
| 4 | Lovre Crnobori | 18 |
| 4 | Rickard Österberg | 18 |
| 4 | Jake Smith | 18 |

## Pro Tour – New Orleans (31 October – 2 November 2003)

After finishing second with his team in Boston, Rickard Österberg returned to win Pro Tour New Orleans. The Extended format of New Orleans is considered to be one of the most powerful of all time and Österberg's deck was built around the soon to be banned card Tinker, too.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $200,130 Players: 318 Format: Extended Head Judge: Mike Guptil

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Hans Joachim Höh | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Masashi Oiso | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Masashi Oiso | 3 | Masashi Oiso | Masashi Oiso | 2 | | | |
| | | | Gabriel Nassif | Gabriel Nassif | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Gabriel Nassif | 3 | Gabriel Nassif | Gabriel Nassif | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Tomohiro Yokosuka | 0 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Tomohiro Yokosuka | 0 | | | | Gabriel Nassif | Gabriel Nassif | 2 |
| | | | | | | Rickard Österberg | Rickard Österberg | 3 |
| 2 | Yann Hamon | * | | | | | | | Rickard Österberg | Rickard Österberg | 3 |
| 7 | Nicolas Labarre | * | | | | | | |
| 7 | Nicolas Labarre | * | Yann Hamon | Yann Hamon | 0 | | | |
| | | | Rickard Österberg | Rickard Österberg | 3 | | | |
| 3 | Eugene Harvey | 2 | Rickard Österberg | Rickard Österberg | 3 | | | |
| 6 | Rickard Österberg | 3 | | | | | | |
$^*$ Hamon and Labarre both had to catch a flight on the morning of the Top 8 and did not want to book two new flights. They thus played an unofficial match at their hotel on the preceding evening to decide who would officially concede to the other. Hamon won 3–2.

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Rickard Österberg | $30,000 | 32 | 2nd Final day |
| 2 | Gabriel Nassif | $20,000 | 24 | 3rd Final day |
| 3 | Yann Hamon | $15,000 | 16 | |
| 4 | Masashi Oiso | $13,000 | 16 | 2nd Final day |
| 5 | Hans Joachim Höh | $9,500 | 12 | |
| 6 | Eugene Harvey | $8,500 | 12 | 3rd Final day |
| 7 | Tomohiro Yokosuka | $7,500 | 12 | |
| 8 | Nicolas Labarre | $6,500 | 12 | 4th Final day |

### Pro Player of the year standings

| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Rickard Österberg | 50 |
| 2 | Matt Linde | 31 |
| 3 | Gabriel Nassif | 30 |
| 4 | Yann Hamon | 27 |
| 5 | Brock Parker | 26 |
| 5 | William Jensen | 26 |

## Pro Tour – Amsterdam (16–18 January 2004)

Norwegian Nicolai Herzog defeated Osamu Fujita in the finals to win Pro Tour Amsterdam. Other than Fujita and Herzog the final eight included only accomplished players with at least one other lifetime Pro Tour final day appearance.

### Tournament data

Players: 347 Prize Pool: $200,130 Format: Rochester Draft (Mirrodin) Head Judge: Gijsbert Hoogendijk

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Farid Meraghni | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Nicolai Herzog | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Nicolai Herzog | 3 | Nicolai Herzog | Nicolai Herzog | 3 | | | |
| | | | Olivier Ruel | Olivier Ruel | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Olivier Ruel | 3 | Olivier Ruel | Olivier Ruel | 0 | | | |
| 5 | Mike Turian | 1 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Mike Turian | 1 | | | | Nicolai Herzog | Nicolai Herzog | 3 |
| | | | | | | Osamu Fujita | Osamu Fujita | 0 |
| 2 | Kamiel Cornelissen | 1 | | | | | | | Osamu Fujita | Osamu Fujita | 0 |
| 7 | Osamu Fujita | 3 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Osamu Fujita | 3 | Osamu Fujita | Osamu Fujita | 3 | | | |
| | | | Anton Jonsson | Anton Jonsson | 2 | | | |
| 3 | Aeo Paquette | 0 | Anton Jonsson | Anton Jonsson | 2 | | | |
| 7 | Anton Jonsson | 3 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Nicolai Herzog | $30,000 | 32 | 3rd Final day |
| 2 | Osamu Fujita | $20,000 | 24 | |
| 3 | Anton Jonsson | $15,000 | 16 | 3rd Final day |
| 4 | Olivier Ruel | $13,000 | 16 | 2nd Final day |
| 5 | Kamiel Cornelissen | $9,000 | 12 | 3rd Final day |
| 6 | Aeo Paquette | $8,500 | 12 | Pro Tour debut |
| 7 | Farid Meraghni | $8,000 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 8 | Mike Turian | $7,500 | 12 | 4th Final day |

### Pro Player of the year standings

| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Rickard Österberg | 52 |
| 2 | Nicolai Herzog | 38 |
| 3 | Yann Hamon | 36 |
| 4 | Osamu Fujita | 34 |
| 4 | Matt Linde | 34 |
| 4 | Gabriel Nassif | 34 |

## Pro Tour – Kobe (27–29 February 2004)

On home turf Masashiro Kuroda won the first Pro Tour title for Japan, defeating Gabriel Nassif in the finals.

### Tournament data

Players: 239 Prize Pool: $200,130 Format: Mirrodin Block Constructed (Mirrodin, Darksteel) Head Judge: Collin Jackson

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Luigi Sbrozzi | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Jelger Wiegersma | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Jelger Wiegersma | 3 | Jelger Wiegersma | Jelger Wiegersma | 1 | | | |
| | | | Gabriel Nassif | Gabriel Nassif | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Ben Stark | 2 | Gabriel Nassif | Gabriel Nassif | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Gabriel Nassif | 3 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Gabriel Nassif | 3 | | | | Gabriel Nassif | Gabriel Nassif | 1 |
| | | | | | | Masashiro Kuroda | Masashiro Kuroda | 3 |
| 2 | Raffaele Lo Moro | 0 | | | | | | | Masashiro Kuroda | Masashiro Kuroda | 3 |
| 7 | Masashiro Kuroda | 3 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Masashiro Kuroda | 3 | Masashiro Kuroda | Masashiro Kuroda | 3 | | | |
| | | | Alexandre Peset | Alexandre Peset | 2 | | | |
| 3 | Alexandre Peset | 3 | Alexandre Peset | Alexandre Peset | 2 | | | |
| 6 | Stefano Fiori | 2 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Masashiro Kuroda | $30,000 | 32 | 1st Japanese Player to win a Pro Tour |
| 2 | Gabriel Nassif | $20,000 | 24 | 4th Final day |
| 3 | Alexandre Peset | $15,000 | 16 | Pro Tour debut |
| 4 | Jelger Wiegersma | $13,000 | 16 | 2nd Final day |
| 5 | Luigi Sbrozzi | $9,000 | 12 | Pro Tour debut |
| 6 | Raffaele Lo Moro | $8,500 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 7 | Ben Stark | $8,000 | 12 | |
| 8 | Stefano Fiori | $7,500 | 12 | |

### Pro Player of the year standings

| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Rickard Österberg | 59 |
| 2 | Gabriel Nassif | 58 |
| 3 | Kai Budde | 43 |
| 4 | Osamu Fujita | 42 |
| 5 | Nicolai Herzog | 41 |

## Pro Tour – San Diego (14–16 May 2004)

The second Mirrodin Draft Pro Tour saw three players amongst the final four, who had already finished in the Top 8 in the first Mirrodin Draft Pro Tour. Nicolai Herzog even followed his Amsterdam win up with another win victory, thus taking home the title in both Mirrodin Draft Pro Tours.

### Tournament data

Players: 312 Prize Pool: $200,130 Format: Mirrodin Booster Draft (Mirrodin-Darksteel) Head Judge: Collin Jackson

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Masashi Oiso | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Anton Jonsson | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Anton Jonsson | 3 | Anton Jonsson | Anton Jonsson | 2 | | | |
| | | | Antoine Ruel | Antoine Ruel | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Antoine Ruel | 3 | Antoine Ruel | Antoine Ruel | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Angel Perez del Pozo | 2 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Angel Perez del Pozo | 2 | | | | Antoine Ruel | Antoine Ruel | 0 |
| | | | | | | Nicolai Herzog | Nicolai Herzog | 3 |
| 2 | Mike Turian | 3 | | | | | | | Nicolai Herzog | Nicolai Herzog | 3 |
| 7 | Mark Herberholz | 0 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Mark Herberholz | 0 | Mike Turian | Mike Turian | 1 | | | |
| | | | Nicolai Herzog | Nicolai Herzog | 3 | | | |
| 3 | Ben Stark | 0 | Nicolai Herzog | Nicolai Herzog | 3 | | | |
| 6 | Nicolai Herzog | 3 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Nicolai Herzog | $30,000 | 32 | 4th Final day, 2nd Pro Tour win |
| 2 | Antoine Ruel | $20,000 | 24 | 2nd Final day |
| 3 | Mike Turian | $15,000 | 16 | 5th Final day |
| 4 | Anton Jonsson | $13,000 | 16 | 4th Final day |
| 5 | Mark Herberholz | $9,000 | 12 | |
| 6 | Ben Stark | $8,500 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 7 | Angel Perez del Pozo | $8,000 | 12 | Pro Tour debut |
| 8 | Masashi Oiso | $7,500 | 12 | 3rd Final day |

### Pro Player of the year standings

| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Nicolai Herzog | 77 |
| 2 | Rickard Österberg | 65 |
| 3 | Gabriel Nassif | 63 |
| 4 | Antoine Ruel | 53 |
| 5 | Kai Budde | 47 |

## Pro Tour – Seattle (9–11 July 2004)

Team "Von Dutch" from the Netherlands defeated Japanese "www.shop-fireBall.com2" in the finals to become the 2004 Pro Tour Seattle champions. The team consisted of Jeroen Remie, Jelger Wiegersma, and Kamiel Cornelissen.

### Tournament data

Players: 321 (107 teams) Prize Pool: $200,100 Format: Team Sealed (Mirrodin, Darksteel, Fifth Dawn) – first day, Team Rochester Draft (Mirrodin-Darksteel-Fifth Dawn) Head Judge: Gijsbert Hoogendijk

### Top 4

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals |
| 1 | Von Dutch | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Pocket Rockets | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Pocket Rockets | 1 | Von Dutch | Von Dutch | 2 |
| | | | www.shop-fireball.com2 | www.shop-fireball.com2 | 1 |
| 3 | www.shop-fireball.com2 | 2 | www.shop-fireball.com2 | www.shop-fireball.com2 | 1 |
| 2 | S.A.I. | 1 | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Team | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Von Dutch | Jeroen Remie | $60,000 | 24 | 3rd Final day |
| 1 | Von Dutch | Jelger Wiegersma | $60,000 | 24 | 3rd Final day |
| 1 | Von Dutch | Kamiel Cornelissen | $60,000 | 24 | 4th Final day |
| 2 | www.shop-fireball.com2 | Itaru Ishida | $30,000 | 18 | |
| 2 | www.shop-fireball.com2 | Tsuyoshi Ikeda | $30,000 | 18 | 2nd Final day |
| 2 | www.shop-fireball.com2 | Jin Okamoto | $30,000 | 18 | 2nd Final day |
| 3 | S.A.I. | Ichirou Shimura | $18,000 | 12 | |
| 3 | S.A.I. | Masami Ibamoto | $18,000 | 12 | |
| 3 | S.A.I. | Ryuuichi Arita | $18,000 | 12 | |
| 4 | Pocket Rockets | Paul Russell | $16,200 | 12 | Pro Tour debut |
| 4 | Pocket Rockets | Joseph Derro | $16,200 | 12 | Pro Tour debut |
| 4 | Pocket Rockets | Matthew Wood | $16,200 | 12 | Pro Tour debut |

### Pro Player of the year standings

| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Nicolai Herzog | 80 |
| 2 | Gabriel Nassif | 71 |
| 2 | Rickard Österberg | 71 |
| 4 | Jelger Wiegersma | 64 |
| 5 | Antoine Ruel | 61 |

## 2004 World Championships – San Francisco (1–5 September 2004)

Fifteen-year-old Julien Nuijten from the Netherlands won the 2004 World Championship, defeating Aeo Paquette in the finals. Gabriel Nassif had his third final eight appearance within the season and thus claimed Pro Player of the year title. It was also his and Kamiel Cornelissen's fifth overall Top 8. Germany won the national team competition, defeating Belgium in the finals.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $208,130 (individual) + $208,000 (national teams) Players: 304 Formats: Standard, Booster Draft (Mirrodin-Darksteel-Fifth Dawn), Mirrodin Block Constructed (Mirrodin, Darksteel, Fifth Dawn) Head Judge: Gijsbert Hoogendijk, Collin Jackson

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Kamiel Cornelissen | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Manuel Bevand | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Manuel Bevand | 3 | Manuel Bevand | Manuel Bevand | 1 | | | |
| | | | Aeo Paquette | Aeo Paquette | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Aeo Paquette | 3 | Aeo Paquette | Aeo Paquette | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Gabriel Nassif | 1 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Gabriel Nassif | 1 | | | | Aeo Paquette | Aeo Paquette | 1 |
| | | | | | | Julien Nuijten | Julien Nuijten | 3 |
| 2 | Julien Nuijten | 3 | | | | | | | Julien Nuijten | Julien Nuijten | 3 |
| 7 | Murray Evans | 2 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Murray Evans | 2 | Julien Nuijten | Julien Nuijten | 3 | | | |
| | | | Ryou Ogura | Ryou Ogura | 2 | | | |
| 3 | Terry Soh | 2 | Ryou Ogura | Ryou Ogura | 2 | | | |
| 6 | Ryou Ogura | 3 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Julien Nuijten | $35,000 | 32 | Pro Tour debut |
| 2 | Aeo Paquette | $23,000 | 24 | 2nd Final day |
| 3 | Ryou Ogura | $15,000 | 16 | |
| 4 | Manuel Bevand | $13,000 | 16 | |
| 5 | Kamiel Cornelissen | $9,500 | 12 | 5th Final day |
| 6 | Terry Soh | $8,500 | 12 | |
| 7 | Gabriel Nassif | $7,500 | 12 | 5th Final day |
| 8 | Murray Evans | $6,500 | 12 | |

### National team competition

* Germany (Sebastian Zink, Torben Twiefel, Roland Bode)
* Belgium (Dilson Ramos Da Fonseca, Vincent Lemoine, Geoffrey Siron)

## Pro Player of the year final standings

After the World Championship Gabriel Nassif was awarded the Pro Player of the year title. He was the first player to win the title without winning a Pro Tour in the same season.
| Rank | Player | Pro Points | Prize |
| 1 | Gabriel Nassif | 86 | $20,000 |
| 2 | Nicolai Herzog | 82 | $19,800 |
| 3 | Rickard Österberg | 76 | $19,600 |
| 4 | Antoine Ruel | 68 | $19,400 |
| 5 | Jelger Wiegersma | 66 | $19,200 |